Michael Lynch Injured in Truck Accident on SH 137 near Licking, MO
Licking, MO — December 13, 2022, 32-year-old truck driver Michael Lynch was injured when his 18-wheeler crashed on State Highway 137 near Licking.
Authorities say the incident happened Tuesday afternoon along Highway 137, roughly three miles south of town. Preliminary investigation suggests Lynch was driving along the roadway when he lost control for unknown reasons. The truck left the right side of the roadway and overturned, losing some of its load of lumber across the travel lanes.
Lynch, reportedly wearing a seat belt, was seriously injured in the crash. He was transported to an area hospital for treatment.
The investigation is ongoing. No further information is available at this time.
Commentary on Michael Lynch Accident near Licking
Folks tend to quickly write off accidents like this and assume the driver just did something wrong. Further investigation sometimes confirms that, but it can't be taken for granted or assumed while the facts are still being learned. There can be all kinds of unique reasons for such a crash, but there may also be more to consider beyond its cause.
For example, any 18-wheeler rollover can raise concerns of a defective or poorly-built truck. If the rig overturned too easily or sustained heavier damage than it should have, that could be a sign the vehicle wasn't made to industry standards. Its manufacturer might then be responsible for making a bad crash--and the resulting injuries--worse than they realistically had to be. People would be stunned to learn how many times I've found cut corners, defective parts, and substandard safety features to be the real culprits behind a truck accident victim's serious injuries.
Maybe nothing like that is involved here, but no one can be certain until it's properly looked into. Unfortunately, that usually requires efforts above and beyond those of police. At the very least the people affected by the crash deserve to know they have the whole story.
